Southern Pacific class GS-2

Southern Pacific GS-2
Power type Steam
Builder Lima Locomotive Works
Serial number 7646–7651
Build date December 1936
Total produced 6
Configuration 4-8-4
UIC classification 2′D2′ h2
Gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)
Driver diameter 73½ inch
Axle load 67,000 lb (30.4 tonnes)
Weight on drivers 266,500 lb (120.9 tonnes)
Locomotive weight 448,400 lb (203.4 tonnes)
Locomotive & tender
combined weight
821,400 lb (372.6 t)
Fuel type Fuel oil
Fuel capacity 6,275 US gal (23,750 l; 5,225 imp gal)
Water capacity 22,000 US gal (83,000 l; 18,000 imp gal)
Boiler pressure 250 psi (1.72 MPa)
Firegrate area 90.2 sq ft (8.38 m2)
Heating surface:
Total
4,858 sq ft (451.3 m2)
Superheater area 2,565 sq ft (238.3 m2)
Cylinders Two, outside
Cylinder size 27 × 30 in (686 × 762 mm)
Tractive effort 62,200 lbf (276.68 kN), 74,710 lbf (332.33 kN) with booster
Career Southern Pacific Company
Class GS-2
Number 4410–4415
First run January 1937
Retired 1956
Disposition All scrapped

The GS-2 was a streamlined 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotive that served the Southern Pacific Company from 1937 to 1956. They were built by Lima Locomotive Works and were numbered 4410 through 4415. GS stands for "Golden State" or "General Service."

The GS-2 had a very different appearance than that of the GS-1. The GS-2s were streamlined and designed for high-speed passenger service. They featured a silver smokebox with a cone-shaped single headlight casing, skyline casing on the top of the boiler, skirting on the sides, and an air horn. They retained the teardrop classification lights and whistles.

They were the first to receive the red and orange "Daylight" paint scheme and were used for the streamlined debut of Southern Pacific's premier passenger train, the Coast Daylight in 1937. The following year they were replaced by the improved GS-3 engines. During World War II, they were painted black and silver and were used to transport troops. In the 1950s their side skirting was removed for easier maintenance, and the locomotives were assigned to general service, pulling such trains as San Jose-San Francisco commutes, the "Coast Mail" trains, and freight service.

No GS-2 locomotives survive.

References